Albino MP fears for his life
November 17th, 2010 at 10:00 am by David FarrarThe Reuters headline is:
Albino MP fears for his life
I read on with great concern, wondering why someone was trying to kill Rotorua MP Todd McClay.
But it turns out Todd is safe, so long as he stays away from Tanzania:
Tanzania’s first elected albino member of parliament fears his life could be in danger in the east African country where albino hunters kill their victims and use their blood and body parts for witchcraft.
Albino hunter would be quite a cool job title to have on your CV – would be a talking point at social functions also.
At least 59 albinos have been killed since 2007 in Tanzania and their body parts sold for use in witchcraft, especially in the remote northwest regions of Mwanza and Shinyanga which are both gold mining regions where superstition is rife.
Finally found a country, where people want to be gingas 
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November 17th, 2010 at 10:16 am
The problem is not unique to Tanzania- it is found throughout Africa. I know of four such killings in South Africa, not from newspaper reports but from knowing family or teachers of the children killed.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Ah, delightful Africa, cradle of civilisation and continent of enlightened people.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Watching the house yesterday and having to watch that blinking Albino fool who sits being Goff makes me think that Albino hunting has some merit.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Makes you wonder what merit he saw in advertising himself so publicly to the hunters by standing for Parliament. I mean, now they know he exists!
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:42 am
What an extraordinarily flippant post about such a topic
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I’d file this under ‘ bad taste’. I do some stand up comedy and have a good sense of humour by anyone’s standards but this post has left me cringing.
‘I read on with great concern, wondering why someone was trying to kill Rotorua MP Todd McClay.
But it turns out Todd is safe, so long as he stays away from Tanzania’
Making value judgements in the above sentences. Implying that the NZ MP’s life is more important ( ‘ i read with great concern…’) but the Tanzanian MP’s isn’t ( ‘ But it turns out….’)
‘Albino hunter would be quite a cool job title to have on your CV..’
The sentence is offensive to Albinos and I don’t think anyone else would find it funny.
‘Finally found a country, where people want to be gingas’- missing logic but I see what you’re trying to say.
Maybe I’m being a bit sensitive ( disclaimer: I’m from Tanzania), but I do find this piece badly written and missing humour and logic. The only good thing that can come out of this I assume is greater awareness of the markets in albino body parts. (example link http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/06/markets-in-ev-2.html )
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 10:50 am
… and I’ve never quite understood the apparent discrimination against ‘gingas’ ( as generally with any other form of discrimination). Is this a NZ thing?
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Similar level of enlightenment here, Manolo: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/5272771/Mother-drowned-during-Maori-exorcism.html
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Witch hunts by the religion of hate.
The witch hunts aren’t just a resurgence of indigenous beliefs. They are part of a new and rapidly growing worldwide religious movement within the Pentecostal/charismatic branch of Christianity.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 11:10 am
We have our own witch hunts cha. We just dress them up with media and social networking to make ourselves feel more enlightened.
We haven’t had any noticable social evolution in 50,000 years.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Exhibit A in support of the hypothesis that secular, western democracy is a sh!t system but it’s still far better than any of the alternatives.
And what mark1 said, seconded.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 11:42 am
DPF.. Finally found a country, where people want to be gingas.
If being a white ginga wasn’t bad enough.
Vote:November 17th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Even the establishment is getting in on the demon thing Murray with the America’s Catholic bishops holding a conference on how to conduct exorcisms.
Vote:But fortunately a bloke called Bob Larson has put together a demon test and if you’re unlucky and you happen to need a spiritual warrior then Bob’s your man.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
I just ran that test answering as if I was describing the missus;
“Your test score is 32
You are at high risk for demonic oppression/possession. ”
That bloody explains everything.
Vote:November 18th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Manolo “Ah, delightful Africa, cradle of civilisation and continent of enlightened people.”
Now now, don’t blame the Africans for this. Don’t you know that all of Africa’s problems are caused by evil white colonialists? Never mind that they left fifty years ago.
Vote: